Sunshine & GFX.... All is Well

7 Jul

You might remember that I loaned the GFX for a few weeks a while back. I really enjoyed the camera and was sad when it had to be returned.

Well, it's back.

Not the same one, a different one of course and this time I hope to have it for a little longer. I've been commissioned to do some work with the GFX and I really want to get to know the camera and see if it can make itself justify being in the kit bag.

Part of the reason I'm so excited by the GFX50S is the print quality. Honestly, it's out of this world. I had some of my GFX images printed by the good folks at Digitalab in Newcastle recently and I have, honestly, never seen detail like it in any of my printed images.

That alone, was enough for me to want to start working with the GFX 50S again. And so here it is. Another loan, and this time it will earn its way.

One of the questions I was asked many times after the previous posts about the camera were:

Given the medium format sensor and the depth of field that can produce, is the GFX 50s a camera that can be used hand held? Does it need to be tripod based to get useful images?

Well, I've found that when I've used the camera, both in the studio and for candid shooting, I've had little problems hand holding the camera.

It's true because the depth of field is going to be narrower at relative apertures, I've had to concentrate on the focusing more - but I've found that I can get away (I've only used the 63mm f2.8) lens shooting wide open.

For the images below, I've switched on the Rapid AF option in the camera. This aids the AF, at the expense of some EVF quality....but I'll take that.

Part of my plans for the camera is to use it for my Day in the Life family photography sessions. And the camera excites me for that part of my business. It's a prints business and, as I mentioned, the prints from this camera are simply sublime.

I think, if and when there is a 35mm equivalent lens for the GFX, I'll consider seeing how it gets on at weddings. If the lens lineup matures enough, and it's quick enough, then I may revisit that decision.

In the meantime, we had some of that very rare thing called the sunshine in the UK this week.

I took the opportunity to test out the AF wide open using the 63mm lens....oh, and to test out the weather sealing of the camera too.